Spring latch mechanism



1948. w. A. BARNES 2,448,409

SPRING LATCH MECHANISM Filed Jan. 27, 1947 l 5? ,7 347- 7 1?..2 m I Q3. 10

v V IN V EN TOR.

Walla-u. A- 8% I BY Patented Aug. 31, 1948 SPRING LATCH MECHANISM Wallace A. Barnes, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Langenau poration of Ohio Manufacturing Company, a cor- Application January 27, 1947, Serial No. 724,606

(Cl. 292i-128) Claims. 1

My invention relates generally to hardware and particularly to latches and the like.

Before entering into an explanation of this invention, it will be understood that these devices are used particularly to hold down the covers of caskets and the main advantages arising from their construction are most apparent in connection with this class of containers, although it is obvious that they can be used for other purposes as well. The description, therefore, will be limited to the latch itself.

Although the latch on a casket is a relatively small and inexpensive portion as compared with the entire cost of the casket, it is very necessary that the latch be well constructed and dependable, because a breakdown in the latch after the casket has been shipped to a point, will necessitate the return of the entire casket to the manufacturing establishment, or the dispatch of a repairman to the location of the casket in order to replace or repair the faulty latch.

Because only the handle of the latch protrudes from under the surface of the casket lid, this handle is given a strong tug to unlatch the lid of the casket from the main portion thereof, and is then used to start the upward movement of the lid. Obviously then, a heavy strain is placed on the latch structure each time the lid is open. Further, these lids are opened and closed quite frequently during the construction period and afterwards in the display room and in actual use. It is desirable therefore, that the spring action of the latch be quite strong and reliable, and yet o perate smoothly and evenly. Further, because of the frequent use of this latch, it is desirable that the spring be so constructed that a relatively large amount of movement may be experienced by the handle with an even application of spring pressure at all positions. Because of this relatively large amount of movement, the spring of most devices in use today is overtaxed and often is strain-hardened to the point of failure.

Also, because of the rather unique condition under which a casket lid latch is employed, it is extremely desirable that the pivot area and spring construction of the latch be kept to an over-all minimum width. Thus, free design of spring structure to provide springs which will produce an even tension throughout a wide range of fluxing without becoming work hardened is narrowly limited.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a compact pivotal connection between two relatively pivotable parts of a latch, whereby a recess of minimum size is required in a lid or other member to which the latch is to be secured.

Another object of my invention is to construct a latch which will be easy to build and in which the parts are so cooperative as to provide the maximum amount of strength with an even distribution of stress in the spring member thereof.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an improved spring member for a compact pivotal spring member for the two relatively pivotable parts of a casket latch which Will not require a substantial increase in the maximum size recess required in a lid or other member r to which the latch is to be secured.

Another object of my invention is to provide a spring member for a casket latch which spring member is stressed by bending in one portion thereof, and by torsional stress in another portion thereof, the combination of bending and torsion stresses producing the complete spring action.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in com'unc tion with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a latch with which my invention may be used, showing a cross-section of a casket lid and body member with which the latch is cooperating;

Figure 2 is a side view of the hook part and handle of the latch;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a shield member and pivotal support tabs of the latch:

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the shield member and pivotal support tabs, taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the latch showing the relationship of the shield and the hook member and handle thereof;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-8 of Figure 1 and shows the width of the recess required to mount the latch,

Figure '7 is a plan view of the anchor plate of the latch;

Figure 8 is a top view of the latch showing the relationship of the spring to the pivotal support tabs and to the hook part;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view along the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 i a plan view of the spring member before assembled with the latch; and

Figure 11 is a side view of the spring member of Figure 10.

With reference to Figure 1, I illustrate a type of latch which may be used to secure a top lid or cover such as a casket lid. As is illustrated in the Figure 1, the latch l comprises an anchor plate l2, a shield member l3 extending downwardly from the anchor plate 12, pivotal support members i4 extending upwardly from the anchor plate, a hook member l5 comprising a hook 2i, a handle is, a shoulder 22, and a spring To better understand the construction. of the latch i9, reference is made to the detail drawing of the component parts, the hook member of which is illustrated in Figure 2. The hook mem her it: is preferably stamped from sheet material and the handle bent to a position substantiallyas indicated in the Figure 2. A hole is is the preiered embodiment, and is provided. in the shoul der 22 by any suitable means such as by stamping or drilling, although a depression on each side of the shoulder, if preferred, may be provided, and need not be continuous through the shoulder.

For easy manufacture and solidity of structure, the shield member l3 and the tab supporting members it may be cut or stamped from a single sheet of material and bent in substantially a U form as illustrated in Figure l. The Figure 3 illustrates the side profile form of the combination of shield member and tab members as described. Shoulder stops M and locking ears are provided on the shield member l3 to lockingly hold the shield member l3 and the tab members i l upon the anchor plate [2. Protruding surfaces 28, as best illustrated in the Figure 4, are provided on the tab member i l and extend inwardly toward one another from their respective The protruding surfaces is may be preferably stamped from the material of the tabs id and are integral with the tabs M. The protruding surfaces ll! extend into the hole E9 or" the hook member l5 and are shown as short conical protrusions for forming bearings for the pivotal connection.

The anchor plate IE, as best illustrated in Figure 7, is stamped or provided from sheet material and may be of any suitable out-side form,

such as the semi-circular iorm illustrated. Chamf-ered screw openings 25 are provided to permit the anchoring of the anchor plate l2 and the latch in to the door or lid on which it is operating by means of bolts or screws such as t the screws 23. A rectangular opening 27 is provideo. in the anchor plate to mount the shield part It with the tabs [4 and the hook member 15 therein. A clamping member is integrally formed with the anchor plate l2, as best illustrated in the Figure 7. This clamping member 3t may be folded along the edge of the anchor plate l2, that is the division line between the anchor plate l2 proper and the extension clamping member 36 thereof, as illustrated in the Figure 1 of the drawings.

I have found that a vastly improved spring action for the type of latch illustrated may be accomplished by combining and balancing pure bending action with torsion bending. In order to accomplish this balance of bending stresses, 1 have found that a spring structureas illustrated in the Figure 10 is most suitable and to be preierred. This spring ll comprises generally a first leg portion 31 and a second leg portion 38. The leg portion 31 includes a lever anchor portion 39 and a transverse tors-ion portion 4 l Likewise, the leg portion '38 includes a lever anchor portion Ed and a transverse torsion portion 52. As illustrated in Figure 1*1, the lever anchor portions 39 and 89 are preferably bent to lie at an angle to the plane of the remainder of the spring.

To assemble the latch 58 for operation, the tabs it may be inserted into the rectangular opening 21 until the stop shoulders 26 of the shield l3 comes in contact with the edges of the opening 2'5. The locking ears 23 are then bent over tightly to the surface of the anchor plate l2 and the combination of shield plate 53 and tab member 54 are thus securely held in place. The hook member l5 may be inserted into place by spread-- ing the tabs i l a slight distance apart and inserting the hook 2i therethrough and into the loop of the shield member IS. The hole i9 is placed into position to be engaged by the protruding surfaces it of the tabs M when the tabs M are .again returned to the normal position. Upon returning the tabs M to their normal position,-the protruding surfaces I8 extend into the hole l9 and thereby pivotally lock the hook memher we to the tabs Hi.

My improved spring i7 may be placed in po sition after the assembling of the latch has been done as heretofore described. In assembling the spring H, the tab 3 8 is preferably bent back upon the plate it to some extent, but not tightly thereagainst. The spring H is then placed with a contact end 23 thereof pressing down upon the top surface of the hook member i5 at a position on the side of the opening 2? opposite the tab member 36. The lever anchor portion 39 and ii) are placed beneath the folded tab member 35, and the transverse torsion portion 41 and 42 extend outwardly from the cover of the tabmemher 36. Thereafter, thetab member 36 may be thrust a hard blow to tightly secure the portions 39 and ill between the surface of the anchor plate 82 and the tab member 36. By thus pressing the portions 39 and 4?], an initial tension will be placed on the spring ll, because of the upward bend given to the portions 3% and see Figure 11. As illustrated best in the Figure 9, the blow used in pressing the tab member 36 tightly upon the portions 39 andidil is sufficient to embed the spring portionsv $9 and MI into the metal of the anchor plate and the tab member 35. Longitudinal grooves are thereby formed. in the-plate i2 and the tab 36 and tightly hold the spring ll against displacement during use. It is possible to thus form the longitudinal groove and embed the spring into the metal of the-plate f2 and the tab'35, because the spring metal of the spring ii is considerably harder than the metal normally used for the plate Hand the tab 35.

As before mentioned, and as is best illustrated in the Figure 8, the transverse torsion portion-s ii and d2 of thespring I? extend from beneath the tab member 36. Thus, during operationwhen the spring I? is flexed as the handle It is moved, a bending action will take place in the interconnecting spring arm 44 and 45 of the legs'Bl and 38 respectively, whereas a torsion portion or twisting action will take place in the portions ll and 52. Thus, a vastly improved spring action for this type of latch is produced by my improved spring structure.

It is apparent from the drawing and the discussion given hereinbefore, that the type of pivotable mounting means illustrated is simple to construct, easy to assemble, andeliminate exterior protruding surfaces which would require an extra large recess to fit into, and which would also; require a larger anchoring; plate. l2 in order-that thescrew openings 25 could be spaced far enough to clear a large recess. .Asmall'recess 28; is re-- quired in a lid member, and theresulting safe distance between the recess 28 and the screws 2% is illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawing.

To mount the latch I0 for operation, the lid or door 33 with which the latch is to operate need be recessed, as by recess 28, to a very narrow width to permit entry of the tab part M and the spring member I! of the latch. The latch Ill is then mounted as illustrated in Figure 6 and held in place by screws 26. The latch is adapted to engage a catch I I which is illustrated in Figure 1 in cross-section and may be made from a rectangular piece of material having a latch receiving opening therein. The material out from the latch receiving opening of the catch I I is bent along one side thereof in a perpendicular direc tion to the rim of the catch H to form a catch member 35.

A recess 29 is provided in the body 34 to which the lid or door 33 engages to provide clearance for the shield I3 and the catch member 35 to extend into. The catch plate as before described may then be secured by means of screws 36 to the body part 34 to form a rim about the recess 29, and form a catch member 35 extending into the recess 29.

The lid or door is locked to the stationary part of the device by allowing the lid, which is carrying the latch II] to extend upon the stationary part with the shield I3 and the hook member 2i of the latch It) extending into the recess 2! As the rounded edge 3! of the hook 2I strikes the catch II, the hook member I5 is pivoted about the protruding surfaces I8 against the force of the spring IT. The shield I3 and the hook 2i are thus able to extend into the recess 29. After full penetration of the hook 2| and shield I3 into the recess 29, the catch engaging surface 32 of the hook 2I is free to be snapped by the spring I! under the perpendicular edge of the catch 5 I and secure the latch I ii to the catch i I thereby locking the lid to the stationary body part.

To release the lid from the stationary body part, the handle I6 is deflected upward to pivot the hook member I5 about the tabs I4 and move the flat surface 32 and the perpendicular part of the catch II apart. The lid is thus released to be raised from its position from the body part.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity in its preferred form, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a latch adapted to engage a catch, the said latch comprising an anchoring plate having an aperture therethrough, two tab members spaced on opposite sides of said aperture extending upwardly from said plate, a hook member with a handle, said hook member having a pivot portion with a pivot hole extending transversely therethrough, said hook member being positioned with the pivot portion thereof positioned between the spaced tab members and with a latch portion thereof extending swingably through said aperture, the combination of protruding inside surfaces formed integrally with the spaced tab portions and extending into the said hole of the pivot portion to pivotally engage the pivot portion to said tab portions, and spring means to constrain the hook member to a latched position, the said spring means comprising a first leg portion and a second leg portion, each said leg portion including an anchor end, a contact end, and an interconnecting spring arm interconnecting said ends, said anchor end of each leg including a lever anchor portion and a transverse torsion portion, fastening means for fastening said anchor ends to said anchor plate on one side of said pivot hole, said interconnecting spring arm of each leg eirtending away from said fastening means in a direction toward said handle, said transverse tor-- sion portion of each leg extending in a direction at an angle to the direction of said spring arm, and said lever anchor portion of each leg extend ing in a direction at an angle to the said transverse torsion portion, said contact end pressing on said hook member on said other side of pivot hole and constraining said hook to a latched position.

2. In a latch adapted to engage a catch, the said latch comprising an anchoring plate having an aperture therethrough, two tab members spaced on opposite sides of said aperture extending upwardly from said plate, a hook member with a handle, said hook member having a pivot portion with a pivot hole extending transversely therethrough, said hook member being positioned with the pivot portion thereof positioned between the spaced tab members and with a latch portion thereof extending swingably through said aper ture, the combination of protruding inside surfaces formed integrally with the spaced tab portions and extending into the said hole of the pivot t portion to pivotally engage the pivot portion to said tab portions, and spring means to constrain the hook member to a latched position, the spring means comprising a first leg portion and a second leg portion, each said leg portion including an anchor end, a contact end, and an interconnecting spring arm interconnecting said ends, said anchor end of each leg including a lever anchor portion and a transverse torsion portion, a clamping member formed integrally with an edge of said anchoring plate on one side of said pivot hole, said clamping member having longitudinal grooves therein corresponding to each of the lever anchor portions of the leg members of the spring means, said anchor plate having longitudinal grooves therein corresponding to each of the lever anchor portions of the leg members, said clamping member being folded along said edge back upon said anchor plate and thereby fastening the lever anchor portions of the spring means :between said clamping member and anchor plate in said corresponding longitudinal grooves, said interconnecting spring arm of each leg extending away from said fastening means in a direction toward said handle, said transverse torsion portion of each leg extending in a direction at an angle to the direction of said spring arm, and said lever anchor portion of each leg extending in a direction at an angle to the said transverse torsion portion, said end pressing on said hook member on said other side of said pivot hole and constraining said hook to a latched position.

3. In a latch adapted to engage a catch, the said latch comprising an anchoring plate having an aperture therethrough, two tab members spaced on opposite sides of said aperture extending upwardly from said plate, a hook member with a handle, said hook member having a pivot portion with a pivot hole extending transversely therethrough, said hook member being positioned with the pivot portion thereof positioned between the spaced tab members and with a latch portion thereof extending swingably through said aperture, the combination of protruding inside surfaces formed integrally with the spaced tab portions and extending into the said hole of the pivot portion to pivot-ally engage the pivot portion to said tab portions, and spring means to constrain the hook member to a latched position, the said spring means comprising a first leg portion and a second leg portion, each said leg por tion including an anchor end, a contact end, and an interconnecting spring arm interconnecting said ends, said anchor end of each leg including a lever anchor portion and a transverse torsion portion, a clamping member formed integrally with an edge of said anchoring plate on one side of said pivot hole, said clamping member being folded along said edge back upon said anchor plate and thereby fastening the lever anchor portions of the spring means between said clamping member and anchor plate, said interconnecting spring arm of each leg extending away from said fastening means in a direction toward said handle, said transverse torsion portion of each leg extending in direction at an angle to the direction of said spring arm, and said lever anchor portion of each leg extending in a direction at an angle to the said transverse torsion portion, said end pressing on said hook member on said other side of said pivot hole and constraining said hook to a latched position.

i. An irnproved wire spring for a latch, said latch having an anchoring plate and having a handle member pivotably mounted on said anchoring plate, said anchoring plate having a tab portion on one side of said pivotal mounting folded back upon said plate, said spring comprising a first leg portion and a second leg portion, each leg portion including an anchor end, a contact end, and an interconnecting spring arm interconnecting said ends, said contact ends of the first and second leg portions being integral to join the first and third leg portions as one continuous wire spring, said anchor ends of the first and second leg portions comprising lever anchor portions in hook relationship With the adjacent interconnecting spring arm portion, substantially transverse portions interconnecting each said leg portion with the respectiveanchor portions, said anchor portions being held between said anchor plate and the folded tab thereof, and said interconnecting spring arms extending said contact ends to contact the handle member on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting.

5. An improved wire spring for a latch, said latch having an anchoring plate and-having a handle member pivotably mounted on said anchoring plate, said anchoring plate having a tab portion on one side of said pivotal mounting folded back upon said plate, said spring comprising a first leg portion and a second leg portion, each leg porti-onincluding an anchor end, a contact end, and an interconnecting spring arm interconnecting said ends, said contact ends of the first and second leg portions being integral to join the first and second leg portions as one continuous wire spring, said anchor ends of the first and second leg portions comprising lever anchor portions in hook relationship with the adjacent interconnecting spring arm portion, said interconnecting spring arm portions tending to liein a first plane, said lever anchor portion tending to lie in a second plane at an angle to said first plane, substantially transverse portions interconnecting each said leg portion with the respective anchor portions, said anchor portions being held between said anchor plate and the folded tab thereof against the natural position of the anchor portions in said second plane to urge the said spring fiat against the anchoring plate in one common plane, and said interconnecting spring arms extending in a plane at an angle to said anchoring plate to position the contact ends in contact with the handle member on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting, whereby the spring is given an initial tension to press the handle in a given position.

WALLACE A. BARNES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 793,199 Kelly July 27, 1905 832,020 Keil Sept. 25, 1906 2,031,302 Clark Feb. 18, 1936 

